RED RIBBON WEEK KICKS OFF THIS WEEK

Boots are made for kicking the drug habit, ties are made to prevent
being tied up by drugs and red ribbons are made to symbolize the
resolve of students and teachers to stop the flow of illegal drugs
into schools.

It's a lofty goal, and using gimmicks, like caps worn to symbolize
putting a lid on drugs, or mixing up clothing to symbolize being mixed
up by drugs, are the best way to reach young children, according to
elementary principals at Brownsville schools.

"The most important thing is that it's fun," said Michael Moreno of
Villa Nueva Elementary. "With so much focus on TAKS testing, this is a
refreshing way to diversify our curriculum."

The Texas Assessment and Knowledge and Skills test weighs heavily on
the students and schools, but Moreno said many classes are taking a
short break to focus on other important life lessons.

"Believe it or not, kids at this age are smart enough to identify and
relate to issues dealing with drugs and drug abuse," Moreno said.
"This does give them the opportunity to reflect on the positives and
negatives."

Several schools in the Brownsville Independent School District are
holding special presentations, parades and events to commemorate
national Red Ribbon Week, sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration.

"We have a good opportunity to get kids to understand that they will
be in an awful lot of trouble, not just with the law, but healthwise,"
said El Jardin Elementary School Principal Hector Hernandez.

"They know the dangers of drugs, and we want to raise their level of
awareness each year," Hernandez said. "I think more and more we
instill in them the fact that drugs are dangerous."

This means learning about problems in school and listening to special
presentations by guest speakers like U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz,
D-Texas, or Happy the Comedian.

Blanca Lambarri of Victory Heights Elementary School said raising
awareness is key to preventing drug addictions later in life.

"They need to know what is right and what is wrong and that one wrong
decision could affect their lives," Lambarri said. "The teachers take
the time to explain to the children how their lives will be so
affected if they decide to go into the wrong path.

"In the past they only heard the other side, the peer pressure that
was put on them," she continued. "But now we're letting them know
exactly what could happen to them."

Here are a few events around Brownsville schools celebrating Red
Ribbon Week*

Today: Happy the comedian visits Victoria Heights Elementary School at 9:30
a.m.
Wednesday: El Jardin Elementary School students hold a parade on campus at
9 a.m.
Thursday: "Vote to be Drug Free!" Victoria Heights Elementary School
students where red, white and blue.
Friday: The Red Ribbon Rally at Villa Nueva Elementary School begins at 1 p.m.
*Several schools not listed also have Red Ribbon Week events